Pistol/goby thoughts

[ReefJCB]

I love the idea of the pistol/goby combo and have been considering adding a yellow watchman and pistol shrimp.

My dilemma is sand movement. I had a sand sifting goby that I HATED in my tank from years ago because he was always moving sand around and dumping it on corals.

What are people’s experiences with the pistol/goby combo.

 

[James M]

It’s going to be different for everyone but most of them do what you described you hate.

 

[Mike N]

I've had a pistol/yasha goby pair for a couple years now. They only really mess with the sand on the perimeter of the rocks.

 

[Ruben's Reef]

I love the idea of the pistol/goby combo and have been considering adding a yellow watchman and pistol shrimp.

My dilemma is sand movement. I had a sand sifting goby that I HATED in my tank from years ago because he was always moving sand around and dumping it on corals.

What are people’s experiences with the pistol/goby combo.

I have the same situation. My lawnmower goby buried the corals I have on the bottom. I will look for another option to shift my sand.

 

[BeejReef]

following, I really want a pistol/goby as well

 

[Uptowngirl]

In my experience once they find their spot they stay in that area. My pair had two different openings to their burrows. I just moved stuff away from those openings and it was fine

 

[JMM744]

Mine had tunnels everywhere. Kind of neat to watch but nothing stayed in place if the shrimp could move it. Little bulldozer!!

 

[Mike N]

You'll have different opinions based on the type of pistol shrimp. The tiger pistol shrimp are definitely big diggers. The red stripe pistol is much smaller and doesn't do as shifting of the sand.

 

[ReefJCB]

You'll have different opinions based on the type of pistol shrimp. The tiger pistol shrimp are definitely big diggers. The red stripe pistol is much smaller and doesn't do as shifting of the sand.

Red stripe it is! Haha

 

[mta_morrow]

The candy cane/ red striped pistol is like a kids sand scoop at the beach.

A tiger pistol is like a trio of bull dozers.

I’ve had both. Currently have a candy cane with a pair of Randall’s gobies for a year and have yet to uncover anything

 

[Mariette]

I have a bonded shrimp/goby pair. Had em together over a yr. My shrimp landscspes EVERY NIGHT. Digs little burrows. Moves things around. Causes rock structures to sag and fall. He’s a real pain. But witnessing the relationship and interaction just blows my mind. Would never give them up. But also don’t have sand bed. I use crushed coral. And no corals. Yet. I’d think you’d be ok as long as rocks are firmly secured (unlike mine) and you keep corals off the floor. My shrimp will move anything he can lift to line the sides of his rock.

 

[VKP01]

I have a yasha goby/candy pistol pair. Yasha goby won’t touch anything, and the candy pistol really only moves stuff within maybe 6 inches of his hole. If I leave a frag to close to him on the sand bed he’ll move it, but that’s the only thing he does. I love them.

You do have to put the rocks on the glass bottom, then add your sand, otherwise they’ll dig under the rocks and shift everything. If you don’t want sand on your corals, probably just avoid sand-sifting gobies, and give them a little space